Welcome Letter

Welcome to the UCSD Pediatrics Residency Program!

The goal of the UCSD Pediatric Residency Program is to train residents in the practice of general and subspecialty medicine. Our mission is to develop today’s residents to become tomorrow’s physicians as leaders in the field of Pediatrics as clinicians, scientists, advocates, and teachers. We approach training with emphasis on excellence in patient care, encouraging the residents to think critically, to make sound medical decisions, maintain advanced technical skills, and to work in a professional environment that promotes life-long learning.

Our program is unique in its exposure to a diverse pediatric population with breadth in general and subspecialty medicine, placing special emphasis, on community pediatrics, behavioral pediatrics, academic/research pediatrics, and border health. During the three years of consecutive training, the resident will evolve progressively with increasing knowledge and responsibility to all aspects of general pediatric medicine.

Our UCSD resident participates in a variety of programs for continued intellectual growth. Multiple didactic opportunities are incorporated into the curriculum to enhance resident development and training. Our program recognizes the importance of close supervision and mentorship with a goal to develop a close mentored relationship between the housestaff and faculty. Continued opportunities in career development is fostered with exposure to academic and community resources, allowing the resident to gain the tools to understand the steps involved in advancing their careers. Additionally, exciting new growth has occurred in the department to expand resident exposure to Global Health, advocacy training and quality improvement.

We are pleased to offer this program for applicants interested in becoming leaders in pediatrics, and we look forward to working closely with our residents to train them to become the future of clinical care, research, and education.

Best Regards,

Gabriel G. Haddad, MD
Professor of Pediatrics and Neuroscience
Chairman, Department of Pediatrics
University of California San Diego
Physician-in-Chief and Chief Scientific Officer
Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego

Sherry Huang, M.D.
UCSD Pediatric Residency Program Director

Hello and Welcome to Sunny San Diego!

We're so glad you're interested in Pediatrics at UC San Diego and we're excited to share with you what we believe distinguishes our residency training program from every other program in the country! As Chief Residents, we are committed to your ongoing clinical education, community involvement, and career development and it is our hope to develop the future leaders in pediatric medicine.

Because so much of what you learn in residency occurs at your patients' bedside, we feel that it is of vital importance to see as much as possible during your training. Living in San Diego, with its diverse population, enables us to see pathology typical of both First World and Third World populations as our patients travel to us from all over the world. Moreover, as the only major pediatric center in San Diego County, we deal with issues ranging from general pediatric concerns to complex tertiary care problems. Residents at UC San Diego are exposed to all of these patients, creating what we feel to be one of the best clinical training experiences in the country.

We also want to support your passions beyond clinical care. If you have a commitment to community involvement or child/family advocacy, we will give you the time and resources in the community to help you become a leader in whatever field holds your passion. If research is your focus, we have a Physician-Scientist development program established to help you start or continue your research interests. With a separate research mentor, you will have the support to develop your own research project. We have the advantage of being part of an incredible research institution with affiliations to St. Jude Research Hospital, so your options are endless.

Many of our residents choose to spend time abroad. If your interest is in international health, we have several established international rotations with more being developed currently.

We want to wish you all the best in your search for a pediatrics training program that is right for you. If you would like to know more about our program, please feel free to contact us at any time. We hope to see you in San Diego, and look forward to hearing from you!

Your 2011-2012 Pediatric Chief Residents,
Monique, Megan, and Tina

Great programs are defined by great people, and this place is full of them. Overall, the program has an excellent balance between primary, hospital, and intensive care experience.

- Dr. Waheeda Samady, Chief Resident 2010-‘11